Tag: EUNAVFOR

Pirate disruption On the afternoon of 3 April 2011, the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship ESPS INFANTA ELENA, identified and boarded a suspected pirate whaler 89 Nautical miles South-East of Mombasa.The warship had received a short notice tasking to locate a suspected Pirate Action Group (PAG) that had attacked a merchant vessel earlier the same day.Boarding team stop suspecte pirate whalerOn arriving in the area, the INFANTA ELENA found a whaler-type boat, which together with 2 attack skiffs, was suspected of being responsible for the earlier attack. There were two suspected pirates onboard together with significant numbers of fuel barrels, as well as other suspected pirate-related paraphernalia, all of which were seized. The suspected pirates were detained by the warship and the whaler was destroyed. There was no sign of the attack skiffs which are thought to still be at large.As there was insufficient evidence to secure a prosecution, the suspected pirates will be returned to Somalia as soon as operations allow.This disruption has hampered pirate action in the area and is assessed to have prevented attacks on merchant and other vulnerable vessels.Source: EU NAVFOR

Schedule for April 2011 The Russian Maritime Security Service (RMSS) has advised that the Russian Russian warship Admiral Vinogradov will execute the following convoys for the month of April 2011:Westbound convoys, assembly point "B": 15 45 N - 061 30 E 03 April 2011, estimated time of departure 0400Z Eastbound convoys, assembly point "A": 14 30 N - 042 00 E No eastbound convoys are currently scheduled.Any further convoys will be advised later. Joining instructionsShipping companies are invited to send applications for joining using the below application form to the RMSS: Email: [email protected] and [email protected] or Fax: +7 (495) 607-01-95 Deadline for application is 1 April 1200Z.Source: EU NAVFOR

April 2011 In April 2011 the Government of Japan (GOJ) provides escort operations by Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) for vessels in accordance with the schedule below.Please note that due to an increase in piracy activity, the easternmost rendezvous point "C" has been moved further eastwards.Westbound convoys, rendezvous point "C": 14 55 N - 054 38 E: 05 April, 0500Z 14 April, 0500Z 21 April, 1500Z 30 April, 0500ZEastbound convoys, rendezvous point "A": 11 50 N - 045 00 E: 02 April, 1500Z 11 April, 1500Z 16 April, 1500Z 27 April, 1500ZConvoy speed The base speed is 12 knots.Joining instructions Application for JMSDF escort operation must be made directly to the GOJ, which is a separate procedure from the application to MSCHOA. Merchant vessels that wish to apply for JMSDF escort operation should visit http://www.mlit.go.jp/en/maritime/maritime_fr2_000000.html and follow the application procedure.Source: EU NAVFOR

No further information about the crew At approximately 0900Z on 28 March, theCrude Oil Tanker the MV ZIRKU was pirated approximately 250 nautical miles South East of Salalah in the eastern part of the Gulf of Aden.The UAE flagged and Kuwaiti owned vessel was on its way to Singapore from Bashayer (Sudan) when it was attacked. The vessel was attacked by 2 pirate skiffs firing RPGs and small arms.The MV ZIRKU has a crew of 29 (1 Croatian, 1 Iraqi, 1 Filipino, 1 Indian, 3 Jordanians, 3 Eqyptians, 2 Ukrainians and 17 Pakistanis). There is no further information about the crew at present.The MV ZIRKU wasregistered with MSC(HOA), andwas reporting to UKMTO. EUNAVFOR are continuing to monitor the situation.Source: EU NAVFOR

Mutual understanding between the Chinese Forces and EUNAVFOR On 22nd to 25th March, Chinese warship FFG-525 MAANSHAN (CTF-526) escorted the World Food Programme (WFP) vessel AMINA from Berbera to Bosasso.After the meeting between COMEUNAVFOR and the Commander of the Chinese Force (CTF-529), which took place on board the Spanish Flagship CANARIAS on 15th February, a daily exchange of information and coordination for escorting merchant vessels carrying WFP aid has been carried out. The results of this mutual understanding between the Chinese Forces and EUNAVFOR have resulted in the first historical WFP escort by a Chinese Naval warship. This is evidence of good coordination and co-operation with one of the many partners in the fight against piracy.After the arrival of MV AMINA in Bosasso, the WFP highlighted the high level of professionalism shown by the Chinese warship belonging to CTF-526.Coordination between the different actors operating in the Horn of Africa is of paramount importance in order to increase the overall effectiveness of the deployed naval forces.Source: EU NAVFOR

Shared best practices Recent visits of EUNAVFOR ships to the Seychelles have proven fruitful in cementing close relationships and co-operation with the Seychelles Coastguard.Officers from the EUNAVFOR Flagship, ESPS CANARIAS, shared best practices with their partners in the Seychelles Coastguard in escort duties and evidence preservation. Both areas are crucial in the multi-layered fight against piracy. This visit followed on from technical assistance given to the Seychelles Coastguard by HMS RICHMOND when she visited Port Victoria at the beginning of the month.Future visits will continue this trend with planned joint training in evidence gathering and the detention of suspected pirates. This cross training will complement an initiative by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime who are also supporting the Seychelles Coastguard with information to help secure convictions of suspected pirates.EUNAVFOR continues to work with regional maritime forces, UN agencies, industry and other stakeholders in the international fight against piracy.Source: EU NAVFOR

Immediately used as a mothership At approximately 0730Z on 16 March, theBulk Cargo Carrier MV SINAR KUDUS was pirated approximately 320 nautical miles North East of the island of Socotra in the Somali Basin. Within 24 hours of being taken, she was used to launch an unsuccessful attack on the MV EMPEROR.The MV SINAR KUDUS, which is Indonesian flagged and owned, was on its way to Suez (Egypt) from Singapore when it was attacked. Details of the attack are not known at this time but initial reports from the crew stated that 30 to 50 pirates had boarded and taken control of the vessel. The MV SINAR KUDUS has a crew of 20, all Indonesian.Within 24 hours of the attack, the MV SINAR KUDUS was used to launch a further attack on the Liberian flagged Bulk Carrier MV EMPEROR. A skiff with 5 pirates on board was launched from the SINAR KUDUS and attacked the EMPEROR but was repelled by the armed force from the merchant vessel. The EMPEROR was subsequently reported to be safe.The MV SINAR KUDUS and the MV EMPEROR were registered with MSC(HOA), andwere reporting to UKMTO.Source: EU NAVFOR

Crew of 14 Iranian fishermen On 11 March, the helicopter of the French EUNAVFOR warship FS NIVOSE, while on aerial patrol, intercepted and responded to a distress signal from JELBUT 22, also known as AL MANSUR.The fishing dhows position was 130 nautical miles East of Eyl, on the Somali coast. EUNAVFOR warship NIVOSE sent a team to the assistance of the vessel and, at the invitation of the captain of the dhow, boarded the vessel to assist.The crew reported that the JELBUT 22, with a crew of 14 Iranian fishermen, had been attacked and pirated by two skiffs, carrying 16 suspected pirates, in November 2010.The fishing dhow had then been used as a mother vessel in a number of failed attacks against merchant vessels.The pirates eventually abandoned the dhow when it ran out of fuel and water. FS NIVOSE replenished the dhow with these much needed supplies to allow it to continue to a safe port.Source: EU NAVFOR

Insufficient evidence to pursue a prosecution On 5th March, an EU NAVFOR aircraft and the EU NAVFOR French warship FS NIVOSE disrupted a suspected pirate whaler off the Somali coast.The whaler was suspected of leading a Pirate Action Group (PAG) at the time of the incident.On the morning of 4th March, a merchant vessel reported being chased by one skiff about 350 Nautical Miles south of Mogadishu. In response, the EU NAVFOR warship FS NIVOSE was immediately ordered to locate and disrupt the suspected PAG responsible for the incident.In addition, the EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) which is supplied by Luxembourg and based in The Seychelles was also dispatched to join the hunt. The aircraft located the suspected PAG, consisting of a whaler-type open boat, soon after and guided the FS NIVOSE to intercept. There were no attack skiffs found in the vicinity of the whaler.Upon finding the whaler, the FS NIVOSE launched its helicopter which was forced to fire warning shots ahead of the vessel to force the suspected pirates to stop. The crew of the whaler had already been filmed by the MPRA throwing equipment overboard.The French warship launched its boarding team to intercept the whaler ...

Crew members are well and unharmed The MV EMS RIVER, which was pirated on 27 December 2010, was released from pirate control on 1 March 2011.The Antigua/Barbuda flagged and German owned vessel was on her way to San Nicolas, Greece from Jebel Ali in the UAE at the time of the attack.According to the owner of the vessel, all crew members are well and unharmed.Source: EU NAVFOR